Safety pool cover



July 17, 1956 Filed Sept. 3, 1952 LINE CURRENT J. KAROBONIK ETAL SAFETY POOL COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet l PEN 62 IN V EN TORS.

A77 ORNE Y y 1956 J. KAROBONIK ET AL 2,754,900

SAFETY POOL COVER Filed Sept. 3, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTORS.

1 5 WWW jfimwwm ,4 TTORNE Y July 17, 1956 J. KAROBONIK ET AL 2,754,900

SAFETY POOL COVER Filed Sept. 3, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JW? W ATTORNEY SAFETY POOL COVER Jack Karobonik and Thelma Karobonik, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Application September 3, 1952, Serial No. 307,658

6 Claims. 01. 16037) This invention relates to an improved safety pool cover and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a cover for swimming pools or the like which will provide the maximum of safety when the pool is not in use.

It is a known fact that many accidental drownings have resulted from the inadvertent entering or falling into a swimming pool, particularly at night, and more especially in the case of young children.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a safety pool cover whichwill, when properly employed, positively prevent such tragic occurrences, and which will also aid in preventing the entry of foreign substances into the pool.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a cover for swimming pools which can be either of netting or a solid sheet, in which last case, undue evaporation and even overheating of the water can be prevented.

It is a still further important object of the invention to provide, in a swimming pool, a safety cover which can be placed into position by the simple manipulation of an electric switch and which can as readily be withdrawn from water covering position and automatically stowed away out of sight and away from any probable damage.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is'illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a representative swimming pool having the improved safety cover of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a partial diagrammatic and partial schematic view of the apparatus of this invention, showing the same in operative position with regard to a swimming pool.

Figure 3 isa vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. A

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the directionindicated.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 5--5 of Figure 1, illustrating special construction elements.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Figure 1, showing further details. 7

Figure 7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1. V

Figure 8 is also an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 5, including an enlarged showing of details.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section on the line 10--10 of Figure 6, illustrating the controls at the far end of the pool.

Figure 11 is a view of one corner of the safety pool cover of this invention, illustrating a slight modification.

Figure 12 shows another modification.

2,754,900 Patented July 17,1956

As shown in the drawings: a

The reference numeral 12 indicates generally a representative swimming pool having a quantity of water therein; The improved safety cover of this invention is indicated at 16 and is preferably composed of netting of a desired strength, or mesh, but it will be obvious that a solid sheet of material of any kind may be used if desired.

The netting 16 is supported at the'far or forward end of the pool by a cross piece 18 which includes an angle iron 20 and also preferably a metal plate which forms a sort of gate 22.

The rear or inner end of the netting 16 is supported by a bar 24 which is fixed to the end of the pool 12.

The sides of the net are supported by short cables or strands 26 terminating in releasable latch elements 28. These are spaced along both sides of the pool and everyone in turn can be removably fastened to swiveled eyes 30. (Figure 7.)

The inner ends of these eyes terminate in integral shafts upon which are rotatably mounted rollers 32, preferably shaped as shown, and which are fitted into two longitudinal housings or guides 34, which extend the length of the pool. A fixed washer 36 surrounds the shaft or spindle of each eye 30 assuring that the spindle with this roller will always properly ride in the sustaining housing 34. The housing is preferably embedded in the side of the pool and slotted throughout its entire length in order to receive the required number of eyes and rollers which are usually spaced a distance of approximately one foot from each other when the netting 16 is in its extended pool covering position.

Operating cables are provided for pulling the net or cover 16 into position over the pool and also for retracting the same at will. There are two of these cables, one at each side of the pool as indicated at 40 and 42. The ends of each cable are fastened to the outer extremities of the supporting bar 18 and the cables themselves are then laid through the longitudinal housings 34, out to the far end of the pool, thence over pulleys 44 and finally back to the other end of the pool through return conduits 46.

Pulleys 48, 50, 52 and 54 are provided for supporting the inner ends of the cables 40 and 42, and leading same onto-a roller or sheave 56 upon which they are wound, as best shown in Figure 2.

A reversible electric motor 58 is provided for winding and unwinding the cables on the roller 56, thereby in turn pulling the netting over the pool, or reversing this.

action. A three-phase reversing starter 60 is mounted in conjunction with the motor 58 and connections are made between this starter and manually operated switch box or the like 62, which includes opening and closing push buttons for controlling the current. This switch box is shown as located alongside the pool, but it is obvious that it can be positioned anywhere within a reasonable distance, such as inside a house at some place near the pool. The switch box is always so arranged that it is out of reach of small children.

Included in the line circuit are two limit switches 64 and 66 which are normally closed, but which serve to open the line, break the circuit and shut off the motor '58 when the netting 16 has either been moved completely 3 tively heavy concrete cover 68 reinforced by I-bearns 70. (Figure 5.)

This supporting recess is preferably positioned under the diving board 72, which forms part of the normal pool construction, and an outlet pipe 74 for overflow water is also usually provided at this end of the pool. Typical exit ladders are shown at 76. The motor and roller assembly is preferably covered by a removable plate 78 thereby providing for ready access in case of repairs.

The net 16 with its supports and operating housing is positioned on a level sufliciently above the level of the water so that normally the net or covering will not become wet, and the water will not normally enter the storage recess beneath the cover 68--78, particularly when the pool is in use, the gate 22 providing a sufiicient closure element.

In Figure 11, a modified construction is shown wherein the netting 16 is supported by the rollers 32 as heretofore described, but instead of the looped eye connections 223-30, a series of springs 80 is provided connecting the netting to the rollers and to the end gate 1822, wherein a more resilient support of the cover results, this being preferred in some cases.

Assuming that the netting or cover 16 is in its fully retracted position at the near or deep end of the pool 12, and it is desired that the pool be covered for the night or for any other period, the closing switch or push button on the pedestal 62 is manually operated, whereupon the motor 58 will rotate in the desired direction turning the sheave 56 in a similar direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. This action pulls both cables 40 and 42 rearwardly through their respective conduits 46 and accordingly brings the cross bar 18 and all the connected rollers 32 with the netting or covering out over the water in the pool. As soon as the element 18 or the gate 20 contacts the limit switch 66, the circuit is broken and movement stops. Manual depression of the closing switch on the pedestal or switch box 62 can then be discontinued.

The cover 16 and the related parts will then remain in this position until the switch marked Open on the pedestal 62 is manually depressed or operated, whereupon the motor 58 will be rotated in a reverse direction pulling the cover or netting back into the recess provided therefor. The limit switch 64 will automatically stop this operation at the proper time.

It will be evident that herein is provided a safety cover for swimming pools which will minimize or eliminate the possibility of serious accidents, and which will also serve as a cover in order to actually protect the water in the pool from foreign materials such as leaves or branches, and also eliminates undesirable heating or evaporation. If anyone, accidentally or otherwise, enters the confines of the pool when the cover is in position, no great harm will result, and rescue can be effected either at the time, or later, in the event that the person is unable to extricate himself.

As illustrated and described, the safety cover of this invention is applied to a rectangular pool, but it will be obvious that other shapes of pools may be similarly and as adequately protected by the improved device of this invention.

The combination of the bar 18, the angle iron 20, and the gate 22 can be made telescoping so as to automatically accommodate this structure to any variations in the width of the pool where it is used. This is particularly advantageous in the case of odd-shaped pools. One embodiment of such a structure is illustrated in Figure 12, where the reference numeral 88 indicates the cross bar, and the reference numerals 90 and 92 indicate the telescoping or relatively slidable tubular and gate portions respectively.

The ladders 76 are broken as at 94 to permit passage of the cover 16 and the end or gate portions 1822 etc., or the top portion of the ladder may be hinged at its supporting points so as to allow the same to be swung out of the way when the cover is in place or being moved.

A housing and locking key may be provided for the switch 62 so that it can be operated only by authorized persons or those actually in possession of the key.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A protective device for swimming pools comprising a cover adapted to extend over the water in the pool, a support at each end of the cover, supports for the sides of the cover, said side supports including rollers, longitudinal housings adjacent the sides of the pool for the .reception of the rollers, and cables for selectively pulling the cover over the water in the pool and retracting it.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the (connections between the sides of the cover and the supporting rollers are disconnectable).

3. A device as described in claim 1, wherein one of the end supports for the cover is fixed and the other is movable, the cover retracting into accordion-like position, a motor driven reversible drum at one end of the pool for the reception and operation of the cover moving cables, manually operated switches for the motor, automatically operated limit switches for the manual switches, and wherein a storage recess is provided at one end of the pool for the reception of the motor, the drum, the retracted cover and its supports.

4. A device as described in claim 3, wherein the movable support for the free end of the cover includes a gate for closing the storage compartment when the cover is retracted.

5. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the connections between the sides of the cover and the rollers are resilient.

6. A device as described in claim 3, wherein both the gate and support at the movable end of the cover are telescoping.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

